The Avs spent more than half of their 30-minute practice Monday morning working on D-zone coverage. Forget using the entire sheet at Family Sports Center. The Avs had everyone in the east end and did 3-on-3 scrimmages from the tops of the circles to the end boards before using the entire zone from blue line to end boards. It was an pretty intense time, during which Matt Duchene accidentally clipped Nathan MacKinnon in the face, and I noticed there was more man-to-man coverage and defenders continually moving their feet than in the past.

First-year coach Patrick Roy wants his defenders to attack the puck-carrier, and stay in front of their man without the puck. No more sitting back and waiting for the opponent to turn it over or shoot wide of the net. Defensemen are asked to follow their man (a forward) from the circles down. If the forward skates to the point, or visa versa, a switch is made — verbally, and loud. There is more responsibility for defensive forwards to skate and not worry about playing zone/staying on their wings.

“It’s a little more man to man and he wants to keep guys close — don’t give time to guys. That’s what killed us last year,” veteran Avs right wing P.A. Parenteau said after the spirited practice. “You gotta close, you gotta make sure they don’t have time and space. So far, so good. There have been some breakdowns once in a while, but it’s normal. First two games using that system and sometimes guys get lost, but it’s going to improve as the season goes on. And we’re working on it a lot.”